Antares has been selected for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Program, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) initiative led by the Office of Nuclear Energy and the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) to move advanced nuclear technologies from concept to commercial deployment. 

The selection strengthens Antares' growing footprint in Texas, where the company was previously selected to deliver microreactors to Joint Base San Antonio under the Department of the Air Force's Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations initiative.

"The Reactor Pilot Program accelerated Antares and deepened our partnership with DOE and NRIC," said Jordan Bramble, CEO and Co-Founder of Antares. "Launch Pad is the natural continuation of that collaboration and a next step toward delivering reliable power for the missions that matter most."

Launch Pad provides streamlined pathways for developers to demonstrate advanced nuclear technology and accelerate commercial deployment. The initiative leverages DOE's authority and expertise to offer flexible technical and regulatory frameworks that fast-track the path from concept to deployment. 

Through the Launch Pad USA pathway, Antares can pursue DOE authorization to operate nuclear reactors and fuel cycle facilities beyond the National Laboratories, with access to specialized nuclear expertise at Idaho National Laboratory and other National Labs, assistance navigating DOE authorization, a flexible contracting framework, and the ability to leverage unique regional and project-specific advantages. 

For Antares, Launch Pad helps bridge from demonstration to deployment. The company builds compact fission reactors for critical missions on Earth and in space, designed for factory production and rapid deployment. In June 2026, the company's Mark-0 became the first advanced reactor to reach criticality in the United States in more than forty years, and the first under DOE's Reactor Pilot Program, a milestone Launch Pad now carries forward toward deployment.